Apparatus for making flanged metal spiders



June 24,1930. D. w. THOMAS APPARATUS FOR MAKINGFLANGED METAL SPIDERS Filed Feb. 20, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 ym M4306: pav/cl [4/ 7770 was June 24, 1930. D. w. THOMAS APPARATUS FOR MAKING FLANGED METAL SPIDERS File d Feb. 20. 1929 s Sheets-Sheet 2 June 24, 1930. D. w. THOMAS APPARATUS FOR MAKING FLANGED METAL SPIDERS Filed Feb. 20, 1929 June 24, 1930. D. w-. THOMAS 1,755,807

APPARATUS FOR MAKING FLANGED METAL SPIDERS Filed Feb.- 20, '1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 own- 15k;

F 2 g H vil Z7 1 j/ F 1' 9. 1U

$1 &WV 70 Qzuozwuis June 24, 1930. D. w. THOMAS APPARATUS FOR MAKING FLANGED METAL SPIDERS Filed Feb. 20. 1929 s Shets-Sheet 5 Patented Jun 24, 193s DAVID w. riioivms, or Yonnesrown; onIo ArPAnA r s-ron MAKING; rrnnenn METAL srrnnias Application and rebreai 'ao, 1929; ser l'no. 341,345.

The present invention is directed to subject matter taken'from copending application Serial No. 277,138 filedfMay 12,-.1928, by Harry A. Husted, Patent no. 1,721,664,

dated J ulyQS, 1929. Thisfinvention relates to apparatus for making flanged metal vspiders andmore particularly to apparatus for making one piece spiders'of dished form suitablefor reinforcing coinpositi0n'st'eeringwhe'els} v p I The principal object ofthis invention is to providejapparatus by' means of which spiders may be expeditiously. formed in accordance with the method described andclaimed in v the previously mentioned copending application.

, Anotherobj set is to provide apparatus for a dished one piece spider strengthened. throughout continuousv ribs or flanges wherebya spider maybe produced without distortion of the rim out of round and without. lateral distortion of any part of the spider due to, the redistribution or flowing of metalsini the forming operation. Wlth the above and other .objects-inview, the invention may "be said to comprise the apparatus as illustrated in the accompanying drawings hereinafter describedand par,-

W ticularly set forth in, the appended claims,

together with such .variationsand modifications thereof as will, be apparent to one skilled inthe art to-.which,the-invention appertainsir- I e ,35 Reference should: be had tothe accompanying drawing forming a part of the specification, in'which Figure I is-a plan view ofthe fiat Wheel shaped blank from which the spider is .40 formed r a 1 a i I 'Fig. 2 is a plan view of the blank after the rim'and spoke apertures and hub open ing have been punchedtherein.

I Fig. Sis a vertical section-through the dies between which the spider is formed, the

section being taken on'the line indicated at 8-3 in Figs. a and 6'. 5

Fig; 4 is a top plan'view of the bottom or stationary die viewedas indicated at '5 inFig.3'.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken ion v the'line indicated' at 55 in Figrt. K

Fig. 6 is abottoin plan view of the upper f movable die viewed as indicated at;6 6 in Fig. 7 is a fraginentaryisection taken on the line indicated at 7''? in Fig. 8' is a fragmentary section through the 'upper' die showing the upper die in full engagement with the lowerdie. Y Fig; 9i s' a fragmentary section showing the position'of the dies with respecttothe blank at the beginning of the fianging opera? tion.' j F igQ 10is a sectional View similar to Fig. 9, showing a positionjof the dies "with=re spect to the blank during the'fiange form-' ing portion of the stroke. 7' i 1 1V Fig. 11 is a fragmentary; plan view ShOW': ingthe completed spider;

' Fig. 12' is a transverse section through 1 one of the spokes of the spider taken'on' the line indicated at l2--l2zin Fig. 11. r r Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan View ofthe reinforced compositionste'ering wheelu 7 Fig. 14 is a section taken onthe line indi cated at 14cll in Fig. 13.'

theblank from which the spider "is made is shown in vFigs. :1 and2fof the drawing. so This blank is aflat one piece blank'of'wheel form cut from a flat inetal plate and having a central hub portion 1, spoke portions 2 radiating from the hub portion and a-con- 'tinuousrim portion 3. The spokes Qrare preferably. placed equi-angularly about the oentral'hub portion and the hub portion of. theblank between the spokes may be 'provided with short projections 4 for a purpose which will be hereinafter jexplained. As shown vin 20f the drawing, rows ofsmall perforations are formed in the blank centrally along the. rim and spoke portions, these small perforationsbeingfor the purpose of integrally uniting the composition 95 body of j the steering wheel in which the spider isembedded through the spider The finished spider has a relatively large central opening, but in order'to avoid di s= tortion of the hub portion during the for'm 9 1o 7 V i distortion during the forming operation.

I rug'ation in thet web thereof pro ecting n ing operation, this opening is not formed in the blank priorto the stamping operation.

But, in order to permit themetal in the hub portion to be formed without setting up internal stresses which would tend to cause distortion, a series of openings 6 are formed around the center. of the hub portion" within the periphery of the opening to be cut in the finished spider to lighten the hub portion without weakening it sufficiently to allow Asshownin'Figs. '11 to 141, the completed 7 fspider has a continuous rim 7 having a -con-; V tinuousouter flange 8, inner flanges 9 along the inner edge thereof and a continuous corthe same direction-as the-side flanges 8 and 9. The ispokesllof the: spider have side flanges 12 and longitudinal corrugations formed in the webs thereof. The 'hub 14: of the spider has an outer flange 15 and a central opening 16 vformed by cutting away the central portion containing the openings 6.

' .The flanges of, the rim, spokes and hub all extendlaterally of the spider in the same directionythe flanges 12 of the spokes being continuous with the inncr'fiang'es 9 of the 'rim and with the ,flan 'es 15 of the hub, The

: portion to the spoke portion.

' flanges and corrugations. v

The present invention provides apparatus by which the reinforcing spider shownin Figs. 11 to 13 may be formedfrom the flat 2 metal blank shown in'Figs. 1 and 2 without distortion of any part thereof, the rim portion 3 being held against dist-ortion of any part thereof out of ithevplane ofth'e rim'and the hub and rim being accurately formed v 7570 r blank the blank is placed between a pairof and centeredwith respect to the axis 'of'th'c spider. v f g In forming thespider from the flatinetal dieslwhich'conform to opposite side faces I of the spider and these dies are so constructs ed and operated that prior to the flanging of the blank, the blank is'pressed-to dish form.

,'During the dishing of'the'blankythe rim portion of the blank is positively held'to its original diameter so that the lateral move,-

,ment of the hubportion of the blankwith respect to the rim; portion thereof causes the spoke portions of the blank to be stretched slightly "to permit the lateral offsetting of the hub portion with respect to riinportion while the rim portion remainsat its original diameter, rrufter thedishing of tho blank,

thedies are brought into full engagement simultaneously flanging and corrugating the hub, spokeand rim portions of the spider" 1' Distortion of the hub portion of the spider during the dishing and fianging operations is prevented by reason of the open ngs formed in'the hubwhichfreducethe rigidity of the hub portion sufficiently to permit the i hub portion to be readily pressed to its final shape without setting up excessive internal stresses, but which also leave integral web portions across the center of the hub.por-

tion of the blank, which'hold the peripheral portions of the hub between the spokes against distor tion.

tion during theforming opera 'Dies suitable for forminga flanged spider j from a fiat blank in accordance with the method of the present invention are shown;

in Figs. 3 to 10 of thedrawing, these dies comprising a lower stationary die 17 fixed to the bed 18 of-a suitable press and armor able upper die 19 secured to the n ovablei head 20 of the press. u 7

The lower: die 17' has a peripheral rim engaging portion'in the form of; afixed an nular upwardly projecting rib 21-which has a continuous corrugation forming'groove 22 111 its upper edge which provides inner and;

outer annular ribs 23 and 24 along the nppe'r' The rib 21 fits within edge of the rib21 the channel of the rim 7 r of the spider and V has vertical inner'and outer walls 25-and 26 against which the side flanges 8 and 9 of'the '1 rim are formed] The bottom die also has stationary radial spoke engaging ribs 127 V which slope downwardly from the rimmigagingrib 21Qtoward thecenter. of the die to'fit within the channels of the spokes of and whichrare provided along their upper edges with corrugation forming channels 28 andside ribs 29, the ribs'2'7 being formed i the spider. 'The stationary die is also pro- 1 'vided' with'a raisedhub forming portion 80 which 'is disposed at a lower level thanthe ,peripheral rim. engagingrib 21 of the die.

The liub'forming portion 30 of the lower die has a top surface which conforms to the bottom surface of the hub of the spider and hasvertical'peripheral wall portions 31 betwee'n'the spokes'against whichj-the outer flanges 15 of the spider are formed. In the spaces of the die between the spoke forming ribs 27 and between the rim forming rib 21 and hub forming portion 30, the bottom die is provided with. segmental cushion plates 1 32 which are supported upon compression coil'springs 33. The upper faces of the plates 32 are inclined downwardlyfrom adjacent the rim engaging rib 21 to the by the springs 33 with their outer edges sub V stantially flush with the top of the rib 21 and with their side edges flush with the tops of the spoke forming ribs27. 'The cushion hub portion 31 and are normally supported 7 3 plates carry upwardly projecting/positioning studs 34; on oppositesidesof .eaoh of the spoke engaging ribs 21 and adjacent the outer edges of the plates. The; positioning studs areso located that when the flatfblank is placed on the lower dierthe studs engage the opposite edges'of the spoke portions of the blank adjacent the rim and alsoengage the inner edge of the rim portion to'prevent the rim portion from being drawn inwardly during the initialportion ofthe compression stroke, while the hub'portion of the blank is being forced downwardly into engagement with-the hub forming portion 30 of thedie;

The annular rim forming rib 21', theradial 'spoke forming ribs 27 and the hub forming portion 30' of the bottom die form a wheel a shaped concave die conforming to the under .of the upperfmovablediegface of the spider throughout and upon I I which the spider is forme d by I the action .The upper; die l9-consists:of a'bedeplate35 rigidly secured .to themovable head and this bed platehas rigidlyi-iattached'thereto an. outer annular ifianging die 36 whichprov jects downwardly" from the plate and A has an internal diameter slightly greater -than the external diameter of the annular rib 2l of the'lower die to accommodatetheouter flangeof the spiderbetween :its inner face and the outer face of the crib 2 1. Also, rigidly secured to the: bed; plate. 35 within other a distance, corresponding to the width of; the spider to accommodate the ,spoke forming ribs 27 andthe flanges of'the spokes ,ofgthe spider between them. In .theidownmovement of'the upper die, theiouter annular hanging die 36 engages the outer edge of the rim vporti-on fof the blank and bends the same down against: the outer face 26 ofthefrib121=of the lower die and seg- -mentaldi 3s 537 gengage theinner. edge 'of the iiri-m portion .of'the blanlnfifithef'outerf edge ofithevhubxportion andthe side edges of'the 7 spoke portions thereof bending;v the inner edge of the'rimpontion against theinner face 25 of the, rib 21, the outer edge of the i hub; portion "against the outer face? 31v of the I hub forming portion30 of the lowerfldie and opposite side edges Y of' the; spoke :pornon-m ma the opposite side f ces of they (Spoke; forming ribs: 27;of the. lower die Mounted in the spaceshetween the segmental wflangingfdies 37 and "outer: annrilarflang- :ing elies 36 and in the spaces ,between adja coil springs 42 acting upon the guide stems :41; The upper die 19isprovided-withapen tures 43 to, receive'the positioning studs 34 of the lower dieso that the cushioning plates "32" are maintained in engagement; with the blankuduring the initial engagement of the tion 44 is recessed to'receive the hub ti0nofthe1finished spider and the inner portions. of-the spokes of thespider, being iproe .Videdi with fiangingportions 45 which cofoperate with the hub forming portion 30 .of the lower 'dieto bend the outer edge po r-' 6 cent segmental dies 37 there isva 'corrugating die 38 in the form of a spiderwhich has an" enlarged upper portion engageable 1 ,withgoppositely disposed shoulders onthe. fflanging dies 36 and 37- tolimit the-downward movement thereof, The corrugating die 38 is provided along the lower edges thereofowith' ribs 40 which are positioned to enter the grooves 22 and'28 of the ribs 21 and 27 of the lower die to form the circumferential corrugation in the rim and the radial corrugations in the spokes; The die 38 "may be formed in one piece or the rim '3 and spoke engagingportions may be formed separately. In either case,- the corrugating die 38 is guided by vertical stems 41 slidably in bed plate'35 andis normally held in its lowermostposition vwith the enlarged-portiont39 thereof engaging-the shoulders of the Hanging dies by means of compression upper .die' with the blank to forcethefhub H portion of the blank downqinto engagement with the hub forming, portion 30. The

upper die has a. hub forming portion 44 I ,which isrlower than the outer .flanging die 36 andthe spoke engaging portions of-the' upper dieare inclined downwardlytoward thefcenter of the die, The hub formingporportions of thelhub into engagement with the outer' face .31 of thejhub forming :portion 30. The upper die vis maintained in proper] j-ali nement with the lower die during thei forming operation by' means of guidepins nd 1 46-fi'xedtouthebed and slidably fitting into j V sockets 47 carried by' thelbed plate 3570f 'thfeupper die. I i In the operation ofthe machine, aaflat 1'15 blank such as shown inFig'. 2 is placed'j on the lower die with its rim portion'3rest1ng upon the topof the annular rib 21 and with,

the; outerf ends of the spoke portions lying between -positioning studs on the cushioniug plates 32. As theup'per'die is broughtof the lower die; This lateral displacement i down into; engagement,withthesblankythe central, hub flanging portion of the upper :die fi-rstengages the hub portion .ofthe blank --and2e forces thehub portion down 'int'o en- I *gagement .withthe hub forming portion 30 oflthe hub portionfof the blank'with respect u e tot'he-rim portion would normally'd'raw the I 7 Trim; portion of the. blank inwardly at the ends of the spokes and distort-:the. -rim ,pore

.ofthemovement of the upper die, the cortion, but this is prevented .by the positioningf'studs 34 which positively hold the rim portion 3 of the blank against inward movement so thatthe spoke portions of the blanks arestretched slightly, as the blank is pressed ,into dished form,fi When the hub portion of the blank has vbeenbrought to a position against the upper surface of the hub. forming portion 30 ofthe'lower die, the'corrugating ribs 40 of the upper die will be in -'engagement with the rim portion of the blank throughout its periphery and with the spoke portionsthererif throughout their length and theinner edge portion of the -rim, the outer edge of the hub portion and side edges of thespoke portions being clampedibetween the flanging dies 37 and f cushion'plates 32. Continued movement of the upper die'causes the corrugati'ng: die 38.

to'be moved upwardly with respect to the flanging dies against the pressure 'of' the springs 42 until the flanging dies" 36 and 37 and hub fian-ging portion 45are'brought into engagement with the blank, as shown -in Fig; 10of the drawing.' Further, down ward movement of the upper die causes the edge portions of the blank to be bentdown- 'wardly againstthe opposite faces of the a n-' nular'rib 21 and iradial ribsj 27 of the lower bl die and-against the outer face 81 of the r a ,hub forming portion 30 between-the spokes.

Duringrthe flanging operation, the corrugating die 38 will have reached its upper limit of'movement with respecttojthe flanging dies 36-and 37 sothat in the final portion rugating ribs 40 are forced into the grooves 22 and 28 of the lower die to formthe'rim IEL IId SPOkG corrugations; ,The spider isthus pressed to final dished form between the dleswhlch. pressthe continuous strengthena ing flanges and corrugations. into-theiblank Without distorting any portion thereof;

:, After the stamping operation above described, the central opening 16 is cut in the hub and the spider isthenplaced in a'mold anda body of suitable initi'ally plastic material 48 is molded around the-hub spokes andrim of the spider, whiclncomposition .material completely embeds the spider. The projections l at the outer edge of the hub J portionof the blank form 'proje,ctions on the hub flange ,15 which serve as supports for the spider -inithermold'while the compositionbody 48 isbeing applied to the spider,

the lugs" 41 serving to accurately space the V spider with respect to thewalls of the 'mold.

It will be apparentthatthelpresent'im 'vention provides apparatus for M forming a; dished I :spider which is strengthened v throughout with continuous reinforcing "flanges, and-which enables such spider t0 fbemade in a single stamping operation without'a ny distortion ridue to the flow of metal during the formingsoperation, and that the construction. 7

apparatusof the present invention enables such reinforcing spiders to be manufactured rapidly and at a low cost. 1 In addition, it

will beapparent that thepresent invention. provides the forming of dies of relatively simple and rugged construction capable of long service and of relatlvely lnexpensive Furthermore, it is to be the particular form of'apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth, are presented'for purposes of expla :7 nation and illustrationand that" various modifications of said apparatus and proce dure can be made withoutdeparting; from claims. 7 WVhat I claim is: V

7 1. Apparatus for forming flanged spiders of dished form from a metal blank having a continuous rim'po'rtion, a hub portion and spoke portions connecting the r m and hub understoodthat my invention as defined in the appended portions, comprisinga press' having a bedand a movable head ;prov1ded.w1'th comple- 1nental dies, one of the dies-b eingconcave and having blank engaglng port ons -conforming to thefrim, hub and spokes of the spider on one'side thereof, said-die alsohaving positioning members engageable with the rim portion of the blank at circumferentially spaced points and with the spokes 'to hold the rim portion against inward movement and to hold the blank" against angular displacement, the other of said dies being of convex'form and having blank engaging portions conforming to the hub, rim

' and spokes of the spider on the opposite side 2. Apparatus for forming flanged spiders of dished form from a metal blank havinga continuous rim portion, aLhu-b portlonjand spoke portions connecting the rim and hub portions, comprisinga press having -bed' and a movable head provided withfcomple mental dies, one of the dies" being concave spider on one SidQfthGI'QOf, said die having 'yieldably supported cushioning plates inithe spaces between the spoke engaging portions,

said plates having positioning members engageable with the inner edge of'the'rim porbeing of convex form and having blank engagingcportions conforming to the hub, rim and spokes 'of'the spider on the opposite sidethereof; V A; V I a i 3; Apparatusfor forming flangedspiders tion of the blank atcircumferentially spaced points and with opposite edgesof-the spoke' portions of. the blank,-the other of'said dies i of dished formfroma metal blankhaving V a contlnuous-rim port1on,'a hub portion; and

spoke portions connecting the rim and hub V port1ons,fcompr1s1ng a concave dle, portlons thereon for engagement; with the lower faces of said rim, hub. and spokeportions, cushioning plates supported in said die between the portions for engagement with the upper faces of said rim, hub and spoke portions.

4. Apparatus for forming flangedspiders of dished form from a metal blank "having a continuous rim portion, a hubportion and spoke portions connecting said rim and hub portions, comprising a concave die, portions thereon for engagement with the lower faces 3 of said rim, hub'and' spoke portions cushloning plates between the spoke engaging portions of said die, spring means for resiliently supporting said plates on said-die, extending lugs on said cushioning plates "adapted to engage the inner edge ofsaid rim; portion of the blank at circumferentially spaced points and with opposite edges of said spoke portions of the blank to hold said rim portion against inward movement and to hold said blank against: angular displacement, and a complementalconvex die having portions for engagement with the upper jfaces of said rim,'hub and spoke portions. i 5. .Apparatus for forming flanged spiders V of dished form from a metal blank having a continuous rim portion, ahub portion and 1 spoke portions connecting: the rim and hub lugs on said plates adapted to engage-the inner edge 'of the rim portion of said blank at ci-rcumferentially spaced points and with opposite edges of the spoke portions of said blank for holdingsaid'rim against inward 2 movement and for holding said blank against angular displacement. while said dishing portion of said convex die is, forming said blank to dished shape. v s i In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

,DAVID W. THOMAS.

' ortions com risin a concave die ortions Y thereon for engagement with the lower faces of said" rim, hub and spoke" portions,'cushioning plates supported infsaid die between the spoke engaging portions -thereof,]positioning j members on saidcushioning plates adapted v to engage the inner. edge of s'aid rim portion of" theblank at circumferentially spaced points and with opposite edges of said spoke portions of the blank to holdsaid rim portion against inward movement and'to hold said blank against angular-displacement, a complemental' convex die, and spider form-' ing members resiliently supported in said convex die for forming depressions between the edges of said rim and spoke portions of said blank. a I

' 6.. Apparatus for forming' flanged channeled spiders of dished form, from a one piece metalblank having integral rim, spoke and'hub portions, comprising a convex die, 7 o a spider d shing portion thereon, spider I a 60 flangingand channeling portions on said die,

a complemental concave die having portions i engaging said rim, hub and spoke portions :of said blank, cushioning plates between said I spoke engaging portions "resiliently I supported on said concave die-, and extending filo I i f 

